Sub-miniature, two position double pole switch

ABSTRACT

A sub-miniature, two position, double pole switch has flat, planar terminals of rectangular cross section with projecting portions outside the case bent at right angles, all in the same plane, to the portions inside the case, and having blades of reduced dimensions for insertion in the circular apertures of a modular printed circuit board. The flat planar terminals are pre-formed initially with the right angular configuration before receiving at least one coating layer thereon, to avoid cracks in the coating due to bending. The coatings compromise a nickel barrier and a gold plate layer.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 782,992 filed Mar. 30, 1977, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,574 of Aug. 29, 1978.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In conventional switches of the double pole, two position type, where size and dimensions are not especially critical, the problems of arcing between the dual rockers, within the case, and the problems of rocker twisting, uneven closing, etc. do not normally occur.

It has been found that in miniature switches, used in electronic circuitry, and in sub-miniature switches, which are of even smaller size, the parts, such as the plungers, plunger tips, rockers, terminals and even the switch case are so tiny that they not only are most difficult to machine, shape and install but they may tend to twist in use and cause uneven closing of the circuits. In addition the double poles and dual rockers are so close to each other that cross arcing may occur within the sub-miniature switch case.

It has heretofore been proposed in see-saw switches of the push button type to provide flat metal terminals which are straight and to provide an upstanding insulative wall, or walls, in the space between the dual see-saws as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,598 to Nishikawa et al of Sept. 26, 1972.

However in the tiny, sub-miniature switches of the instant invention space must be conserved and there is no room for the dual spring, pressed pushing rods, complicated pushing rod carrier, spring latches and other parts of such see-saw switches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this invention, the switch is termed sub-miniature, or tiny, because the generally cubical casing has outside dimensions of about one quarter of an inch in heighth, depth and width, and yet contains two position, double poles mechanism. Actuation is accomplished within the case by a single, elongated, toggle handle projecting well above the case for easy grasping but having a simple, wide insulated tip within the casing riding on both of the spaced apart rockers.

To form a barrier against cross arcing between the rockers an insulated member extends above and below the level of the double poles in the space between the rockers in the form of a pair of upstanding walls defining an open tongue groove. An insulated tongue depends integrally from the wide, spring pressed tip of the handle to assure that the two, integral contact portions of the tip do not twist the rockers when shifting the switch from one position to the other. Thus uneven closing of the switch circuits is avoided.

The double poles of the two position switch are formed of flat plate-like metal bent at right angles in the portion projecting from the case, and having terminal blades of reduced dimension, rectangular cross section with a shoulder forming a stop when the blades are inserted in the apertures of a modular printed circuit board. Similar blades project from the casing wall to enter other apertures of the modular board for added support for the switch thereon. Thus not only do six terminal blades enter apertures in the board but two additional non conductive blades are provided to assure no dislodgement.

To avoid cracking of the coating on the flat plate-like, metal terminals, during bending into right angular configuration the flat, planar terminals are first pre-formed into right angular configuration, then coated with at least one layer of nickel barrier and gold plate and then inserted into the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front view of a modular circuit board with a switch of the invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the switch shown in FIG. 1, with the circuit board shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the board and switch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation, in half section of a single pole switch having the right angular, flat, terminals of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation in section on line 5--5 of FIG. 6 of a double pole two position switch of the invention having both the tongue and groove means and the bent terminals of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation in half section of the switch shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation on line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the case prior to assembly and showing the open elongated tongue groove, and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the dual contacts, integral tongue and plunger socket for the single spring-pressed plunger of the handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the drawings, on a much enlarged scale about eight times actual size, the sub-miniature, two position, double pole switch 30 of the invention is designed for use on a modular printed circuit board such as at 31, the board 31 having spaced circular apertures 32 therein each about one twentieth of an inch in diameter.

The case 33 of switch 30 may be about one quarter inch in width, depth and length and of insulative plastic, there being a metal cover 34 and a metal upstanding cylindrical portion 35, the two together forming a frame assembly 36 and therebeing an elongated toggle handle 37.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-9 the double pole, two position switch 30 includes six conductive terminals, the central pair 38 and 39 and two outer paris 41 and 42 and 43 and 44, each formed of flat, plate-like conductive metal of thin, generally rectangular cross section. The inner portions 45 and 46 of the central terminals 38 and 39, within the case, form the fulcrum for the two rockers 47 and 48, as the rockers move from one position in conductive contact with the inner portions 49 and 51 of one pair of outer terminals 41 and 42 to a second position in conductive contact with the inner portions 52 and 53 of the other pair of outer terminals 43 and 44.

It will be seen that the inner terminal tips of the inner portions of the outer terminals are in the path of the rockers to close circuits through the switches.

The outer portions 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 of the six flt planar terminals 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 are angled at ninety degrees in the same plane outside the case, to their respective inner portions and each outer portion includes a shoulder 61 and a terminal blade 62 of reduced dimensions, but rectangular cross section, adapted to slidably and firmly enter one of the apertures 32 in the pattern of equally spaced apertures in modular circuit board 31, up to the shoulder 61 as a stop, as shown in FIGS. 1-3.

The flat right angular terminals 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 also include double shoulders at 63 to secure the same to the exterior of case 33 and are double staked, or upset, at 64 from inside the case, on each opposite side thereof, to anchor them in place, this being a difficult and delicate operation during assembly in view of the space limitations of the sub-miniature size of the components.

Preferably the cover 34 of the frame assembly 36 is also provided with additional integral blades 65 corresponding to, and identical with the conductive blades 62 of the terminals, for also entering the apertures 32 of a board 31 to support the switch 30 thereon.

Insulative tongue and groove means 66 is provided including an insulator member 67, located in the space 68, between the dual rocker contacts 47 and 48. Means 66 includes a pair of spaced apart, upstanding, integral side walls 69 and 71 extending in parallelism with the rockers and at a level well above and well below the contact area of the rockers with the poles of the terminals. The spaced apart, relatively thick walls 69 and 71 jointly define an open, elongated, tongue groove 72 for slidably receiving an elongated tongue 73 with close clearance.

Tongue 73 is integral with, and depends from the center of, an insulated tip 74 of the spring pressed plunger 75 of handle 37, the insulated tip 74 having a pair of rocker contact portions 76 and 77 each for rockably actuating one of the dual rockers 47 or 48.

The tongue and groove means 66 not only forms an insulation barrier between the poles of the double pole switch 30 to prevent arcing therebetween but also assures that the rockers cannot be tilted by the handle tip during actuation to thereby cause uneven opening or closing of the circuits through the switch. By the provision of flat plate, right angularly bent terminals the switch 30 is not only able to be sub-miniature in size but is also enabled to hug closely to the board 31 to conserve space while still being easily operable when required.

In FIG. 4 a single pole two position switch 81, is shown to demonstrate that even if arcing is not likely in the absence of double poles and dual rockers, the right angular configured terminals 82, and blades 83 and 84 permit the switch to extend in parallelism with a board 31 rather than normal thereto.

When conventional straight rod terminals of non-ferrous alloy metal, or copper, are coated with a nickel coating barrier to prevent the subsequent coat of gold plate from bleeding or migrating and then are bent at right angles to enter apertures of a circuit board, the nickel coating may fracture or crack due to the bending stresses. This not only invites corrosion or oxidation, in the area of the cracked coating but often causes migration of the materials and interference with the contact surfaces and may prevent conductive contact under, low voltage, low current conditions.

Thus the stamping, or pre-forming of each flat, planar terminal 38, 39, 41, 42, 43 and 44 of copper 87, initially in right angular configuration and in the same plane, then coating with nickel 85 and then with gold plate 86, assures that there will be no cracks in the coatings to cause such unwanted corrosion, oxidation, bleeding or migration of materials. 

I claim:
 1. A sub-miniature, two position switch of the type having a case with a plurality of projecting conductive terminals, at least one rocker and a single handle with a spring pressed plunger and insulated tip for actuating said rockers characterized by:said terminals being each pre-formed of flat, thin, planar, plate-like metal, of generally rectangular cross section, in right angular configuration, in the same plane, with an inner portion in the path of one of said rockers within said case, and with an integral outer portion, at right angles to said inner portion, outside said case; and each said pre-formed, flat, planar, right angular terminal having at least one coating layer superposed thereon in intimate contact therewith; said coating layer being free of any cracks.
 2. In combination with a sub-miniature switch of the type having a see saw, or rocker, for closing a circuit therewithin and a spring pressed handle for actuating said rocker;a plurality of pre-formed, right angularly configured, switch terminals, each of rectangular cross section of predetermined dimensions, said pre-formed right angularly configured switch terminals each having a flat, planar inner portion within said case cooperable with said rocker to open and close a circuit and each having a flat, planar outer portion, outside said case, normal to said inner portion in the same plane, with a shoulder forming a stop and an integral terminal blade of reduced rectangular cross section; said flat, planar, inner and outer portions of each said terminal being each coated with a nickel barrier layer and a gold plate layer. 